Chain valve release tool
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed with regard to a tool for actuating chain-operated assemblies. One embodiment includes a tool including an elongated member having a top, a bottom, and a length greater than a width. Further, the tool includes a first set of equidistantly spaced hooks in a linear arrangement along the length, wherein the first set is located closer to the top than the bottom. When one or more hooks engage the chain of the chainwheel, a further feature enables the tool to lock down on those engaged chains, and, thereby, provide safer pulling and pushing to open and close the chain-operated assembly. Further still, the tool includes at least one handle in an offset, parallel position relative to the first set, wherein the at least one handle may be located closer to the bottom than the top.
This disclosure generally relates to a tool and use thereof to actuate a chain associated with a chain-operated assembly, such as a chain valve assembly (also known as “valve chainwheels”). More particularly, this disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses having an elongated member, such as an extension pole, having one or more arrangements of a plurality of hooks for engagement, having optional locking mechanism, with a chain in order to open or close the chain-operated assembly, which may be located in a place that is difficult to reach without the tool.
BACKGROUNDChain-operated assemblies, such as a chain valve assembly, are sometimes placed in locations that are not easily accessed for employee-safety purposes. For example, avoiding accidental openings of a valve that is located a ground level in a chemical plant, which delivers a source of hydrogen cyanide gas, an extreme poison, may be desirable. Accordingly, the chemical plant may decide to provide access to the hydrogen cyanide gas through a chain valve assembly that is less prone to accidental openings. The associated chain may wrap, at least partially, around a wheel or other component of the chain-operated valve. Upon application of a force, such as on a slack portion of the associated chain, the chain-operated assembly may actuate through pulling or pushing a chain, i.e., opening or closing, respectively. To further enhance employee-safety purpose, a security device holds the hooked chain links. Another security mechanism is for the company to elevate the chain-operated valve or other chain-operated assembly in order to prevent accidental leaks. In order to avoid dangerous climbing or maneuvering, it is desirable to provide tools and methods in order to actuate chain-operated assemblies, especially in difficult to access locations, e.g., elevated locations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne example embodiment includes a tool including an elongated member having a top, a bottom, and a length greater than a width. Further, the tool includes a first set of equidistantly spaced hooks in a linear arrangement along the length, wherein the first set is located closer to the top than the bottom. Further still, the tool includes at least one handle in an offset, parallel position relative to the first set, wherein the at least one handle is located closer to the bottom than the top.
In another example embodiment, a method includes actuating a chain-operated assembly. The method may include engaging, with a tool, a plurality of chain-links of the chain-operated assembly, wherein the tool includes an elongated member having a top, a bottom, and a length greater than a width, a first set of equidistantly spaced hooks in a linear arrangement along the length, wherein the first set is located closer to the top than the bottom, and at least one handle in an offset, parallel position relative to the first set, wherein the at least one handle is located closer to the bottom than the top. The method also includes applying, subsequent to the engaging, a force with the tool to actuate the plurality of chain-links of the chain-operated assembly.
So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of the invention depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are examples and are in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
In addition, directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., are used for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings. In general, “above,” “upper,” “upward,” “top,” and similar terms refer to a direction away the earth's surface, and “below,” “lower,” “downward,” “bottom,” and similar terms refer to a direction toward the earth's surface, but is meant for illustrative purposes only, and the terms are not meant to limit the disclosure.
Generally disclosed are apparatuses and methods for actuating a chain associated with a chain-operated assembly, which is sometimes located in difficult to reach locations, such as near ceilings within factories or plants, tight spaces providing little room to no room for someone to ground themselves so that they provide the force necessary to actuate the chain, and so forth. Example chain-operated assemblies 100, 105, 110 are depicted in
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Returning to the integrity of the tool 200, its 200 components may be solid, hollow or a mixture thereof. Material science is teeming with light-weight and incredibly strong materials, which could be used for any or all parts in this disclosure. So, weight is not the determiner of whether the tool 200 has integrity. The amount of the hollow-to-solid spectrum matters for the length 220 of the elongated member 205. If there is little to no hollow portions along the length 220, then there will be little to no concentric collapse and extension of the same under the assumption that the elongated member's 205 interior is circular-like; naturally, it could just as easily be another geometric shape that imparts the ability for concentricity. However, if there is great concentricity, then the length 220 of the elongated member 205 would seriously shorten and enable easy storage in a home's garage, a factory's maintenance room, a plant's equipment room, and so forth. If the concentric permitted the hooks 235 to be on the outermost portion of the concentric collapse of the tool 205, then this may provide the smallest length 220 of the tool 205 without having to remove to hooks 235—a particularly difficult removal if the hooks 235 are affixed with weld, strong adhesion, or deep screws with uncommon heads; furthermore, removal of the hooks 235 may not be possible if the hooks 235 were integrally formed into the elongated member 205.
Still with reference to
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Although not depicted, the Figures, in particular
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While the foregoing is directed to example embodiments of the disclosed invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A tool comprising:
- an elongated member having a top, a bottom, and a length greater than a width;
- a first set of equidistantly spaced hooks in a linear arrangement along the length, wherein the first set is located closer to the top than the bottom;
- at least one handle in an offset, parallel position relative to the first set, wherein the at least one handle is located both closer to the bottom than the top and below the first set; and
- a locking mechanism mounted to the tool for securing one or more of the equidistantly spaced hooks for engaging one or more chain links before optionally locking the locking mechanism into a final position.
2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising at least another set of equidistantly spaced hooks in a linear arrangement along the length and in a different location than the first set.
3. The tool of claim 1, further comprising at least another set of equidistantly spaced hooks in a linear arrangement along the length and in a different location than the first set, wherein spacing among the equidistantly spaced hooks in the at least another set is different than in the first set.
4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plurality of equally spaced transverse rungs, wherein two vertical supports located on opposite sides provide the equally spaced transverse rungs with lateral supports.
5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism has at least one hinge on the tool.
6. The tool of claim 1, further comprising at least one chain secured to the elongated member, wherein the at least one chain terminates in a clasp for mating with an eyelet fixed to the elongated member, and, thereby, enables locking down the one or more hooks engaged with the one or more chain links.
7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is a pole.
8. The tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises metal.
9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises plastic.
10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises wood.
11. The tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated member has a rectangular cross section.
12. The tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated member has an ellipsoidal cross section.
13. The tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is solid.
14. The tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is hollow.
15. The tool of claim 1, wherein the equidistantly spaced hooks, and one or more handles, have one or more mechanisms for attachment to the elongated member, wherein the one or more mechanisms are selected from a group consisting of weld, adhesion, screw, integration, and combinations thereof.
16. The tool of claim 1, wherein the equidistantly spaced hooks comprise at least three hooks.
17. The tool of claim 1, wherein one or more of the equidistantly spaced hooks have a threaded terminus for screwing into the elongated member.
18. The tool of claim 1, wherein the equidistantly spaced hooks have a first terminus and a second terminus, wherein the first terminus is attached to the elongated member, and the second terminus is oriented toward the bottom of the elongated member to facilitate pulling action.
19. The tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated member at least partially telescopes for adjusting the length of the elongated member.
20. A method of actuating a chain-operated assembly, the method comprising:
- engaging with a tool, a plurality of chain links on the chain-operated assembly, wherein the tool comprises:
- an elongated member having a top, a bottom, and a length greater than a width;
- a first set of equidistantly spaced hooks in a linear arrangement along the length, wherein the first set is located closer to the top than the bottom;
- at least one handle in an offset, parallel position relative to the first set, wherein the at least one handle is located both closer to the bottom than the top and below the first set; and
- a locking mechanism mounted to the tool for securing one or more of the equidistantly spaced hooks for engaging one or more chain links before optionally locking the locking mechanism into a final position; and
- applying subsequent to the engaging, a force with the tool to actuate the plurality of chain links of the chain-operated assembly.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the applying tightens a seal of the chain-operated assembly.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein the applying loosens a seal of the chain-operated assembly.
23. The method of claim 20, further comprising adjusting subsequent to the engaging, a locking mechanism on the tool, wherein the locking mechanism reversibly locks the first set and the plurality of chain-links.
24. The method of claim 20, further comprising locking into position a number of the equidistantly spaced hooks engaged with chain links on the tool.
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- Web Publication (pakuya.com; result from bing.com search for “hook arm”).
Type: Grant
Filed: May 9, 2014
Date of Patent: Mar 1, 2016
Patent Publication Number: 20150323094
Inventor: Josh R. McCullough (Beaumont, TX)
Primary Examiner: Stephen Vu
Application Number: 14/274,369
International Classification: B66F 19/00 (20060101); F16K 31/44 (20060101);